Most dogs and cats love to be outside, sniffing out as many smells as they can, often rolling in the most pungent of things (the equivalent of deodorant to them, if not for their poor owners!). Unfortunately, during their travels they encounter many other animals and can pick up many different parasites.
Fleas are a regular problem in dogs and cats that do not receive monthly flea prevention, and can be caught from other dogs, cats, foxes, and hedgehogs. Fleas cause a form of skin allergy called Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD) – an intense itchiness that can cause hair loss and scabs on the skin. This itchiness can be very uncomfortable for your pet. The good news is that it can be prevented by the simple use of a monthly spot-on treatment applied to the back of the neck.
These spot-ons are also effective against other parasites, such as ear mites, roundworms, whipworms, lice, foxes mange mite and demodex mange, so applying a monthly spot-on for fleas has the added benefit of controlling many other parasites.
Lungworm is an important emerging disease in the UK. It is contracted when dogs eat snails and slugs, and can result in potentially fatal symptoms in dogs. It is essentially that this is controlled regularly by applying a regular monthly spot-on.
Ticks can also be a problem, especially if you take your dog on holidays to the country or abroad, so if you are planning a trip away, please let us know and we can advise you on how to keep your dog protected. Cats may also get ticks, but do not apply dog tick control preparations to cats as they may prove fatal.
Mites are often contracted by puppies and kittens and can cause a number of skin diseases. Fox mange mites cause an intense itchiness and dermatitis in dogs, which leads them to scratch and get skin infections. Demodex mite, which is usually transmitted from mother to puppy in the first few days after birth, causes similar irritation and infection. Ear mites are a common cause of ear infections in both puppies and kittens but the good news is that they are easily controlled with the use of a simple spot-on treatment, applied monthly.
Consider our Pet Health Plans, which are an easy way to spread out the cost of your pet’s annual health check, vaccinations, boosters, flea and parasite control. Read more about the scheme or give us a call on 020 8561 2123.
